OtherPress

by Deanne Fisher

VANCOUVER (CUP) -- Women hired through the federal government’s summer job program are in for a nasty surprise when they compare paycheques with their male co- workers.

The average hourly wage for men under the Challenge, an an- nual federal youth employment program that subsidizes employers, was $5.70 compared to $5.20 for women, according to employment and immigration statistics.

Women account for more than half of the young people hired through the program. Al- though the federal government has an employment equity program that ensures equal par- ticipation of women, disabled people, natives and visible minorities, pay equity isn’t as- sured. "We can only encourage the employers to pay equally," said Noreen Campbell, co-or- dinator of the program in B.C.

- Other yNew: Women on iin Grants Receive Less Pay

"The problem is when we ap- prove a job, it’s not designated for male or female."

At a March 3 Vancouver press conference, a student asked federal Minister of State for Youth Jean Charest if an effort would be made to alleviate the gap in wage levels.

"We follow it closely and ask our people that any major ineq- uity be dealt with," Charest responded, adding that private sector employers showed "the strongest discrepancy of wages between men and women."

But in B.C. it is the public sector which shows the largest gap, paying men an average of $7.56 per hour and women $6.73 per hour.

Campbell would not specu- late as to which of the largest public sector employers -- municipal governments and educational institutions -- was the source of the problem.

"It’s a little difficult for us to do (isolate the problem). We

would have to run a report," she said.

Municipal governments traditionally pay "outside male workers" higher wages than "in- side female workers" said Campbell. "It’s an inequity that exists within that type of work that is partly reflected in our figures here."

Canadian Federation of Stu- dents Pacific Region chair Pam Frache wants the ministry to act on the inequalities now. "It’s been an issue for two years and they don’t do anything. They should be made to answer for that," she said.

Frache said the problem goes beyond the Challenge program and cites a study by University of Victoria sociology professor Roy Watson which showed women students in general suffer from lower wages and higher debts.

"Women are half as likely to find a job that will earn enough to get them through school. And they are twice as likely to have to

borrow money," said Frache."It’s crushing women with debts."

Frache sees the Challenge program as an opportunity for the federal government to help al- leviate these problems. "The federal government consistently says ‘education is under provin- cial jurisdiction.’ Yet Challenge is a perfect means of helping out students."

The average gross income from the Challenge program last summer was $2,193, according to CFS. University students in Canada are paying over $6,000 for one year of schooling.

Campbell said the ministry "promotes the concept (of pay equity)" when they talk to poten- tial Challenge employers and said the issue is "something we’ll be bringing to the attention of the staff."

Non-profit organizations were the only employers who paid women the same wages as men and 60 per cent of the young

Anti-Facist Demo a Success

// ANTI-NAZI

Alarmed by the growing presence of neo-Nazis in Van- couver, protesters came out of the silence to stand up to the skin- head threat.

Approximately 75-100 demonstartors came _ to Grandview Park May 19 to the rally sponsored by the Anti-Nazi

In Brief...

Executive

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President Aias Perez Vice-President Internal Christina Steinmann Vice-President External - ac iieas Treasurer

"Ths Student Socictis ender. going some changes. As the newly elected canditates get comfortable in their new posi- tions, there will be an increased effort at getting students in- volved.

Aias Perez, President

League. The protesters came to the park and then walked south to the Broadway Skytrain station in groups.

Irwin , one of the or- ganizers of the rally, said the tur- nout "shows a positive response to bring the community together in solidarity against the Nazi ter-

Christina Steinmann, Vice President External, has sited classroom routes and increased C.F.S. awareness as some of the tactics to be used to increase stu- dent input. Also, more emphasis will be placed on making stu- dents aware of various social is- sues such as racism and sexual

Steinmann stated she was during the elections this past spring, adding that the Society is togetherr without all the “ten- sions" expereinced last semester.

Other Press Constitutional Committee Meeting June 3,4 All Other Press Members Please Attend Phone 525-3542 for Info.

ror." However, protesters were generally frightened of the prospects of Nazi violence at the rally.

Most of the demonstrators didn’t allow their pictures to be taken, and a few were wearing scarves to hide their faces. Said one frightened participant, "The

situation is - I’m scared. Iwant to get out of here as soon as pos- sible."

Violence was a definite pos- sibility at this rally, considering it took place just one day after a skinhead gig at the New York Theatre was cancelled. Spon- sored by CITR, the concert, featuring the Cro-Mags and Iron Gypsy, was cancelled in part be- cause of the attention focused on it by the Anti-Nazi League. The League freared retaliatory at- tacks.

The walk was, in contrast, very peaceful. Marshalls led the crowd to Broadway Station in small groups and upon comple- tion the groups went their separate ways. Nazi reprisals did not occur.

cemeneny Sea. ete

people they hired were women.

The Tories announced an overall increase in the Challenge *89 program in January, but re- directed it to high school stu- dents. The result is a loss of $8 million worth of summer jobs for university and college students.

Charest’s announcement in- cluded $31.3 million alloted to

New Brunswick and New- foundland for special five-year employment programs for youths making the transition from school to work -- negotiated last fall. Taking this into account, spending is actually down by $12.3 million from last year’s $180 million.

Statistics Canada pegs un- employment for 1988 at 7.8 per cent. The jobless rate for those between the ages of 20 and 24 is 11.2 per cent. That number is 25.2 for Newfoundland and 18 per cent in New Brunswick -- the two provinces with separate agreements. And unemployment among 15- to 19-year-olds is 13.2 per cent.

Vancouver to Protest ARENA Victory in El Salvador

Courtesy E.S.1.0.

As part of an international response to El Salador’s ARENA party taking office June Ist, Vancouver’s Salvadoran com- munity and their friends will be holding a demonstration. The rally will take place in front of the U.S. Consulate (1075 W. Geor- gia) at 4:00 pm.

The U.S. backed ARENA party, known for its connections with El Salvador’s infamous death squads, was elected last march in undemocratic elections. The electoral process was carried out in the middle of a nine year old civil war and with heavy government repression against the people.

In addition, three journalists were killed by government for- ces in an effort to censor the media reporting the low turn out at the voting polls. There have been 28 journalists killed in El salvador since 1980, more than were killed in the entire Vietnam war.

The turn out for the elction was less that 40%, the lowest in El Salvador’s history. ARENA gained power with only 16% of the eligible voters list. There were also 200,000 people who spoiled their ballots in protest against the elections.

The majority of Salvadorans do not believe the electoral process will solve the desperate problems of the country. ARENA will only increase the crisis and create more repression. The international community and the Salvadoran people want a negotiated political solution to the conflict between the Farabundo Marti National

Liberation Front (FMLN) and the government.

On June Ist people around the world will be demonstrating in support of a negotiated politi- cal solution put forward by the FMLN and against the "total war " strategy of the ARENA govern- ment.

The Vancouvewr demontra- tion is presented by the El Sal- vador Information Office (E.S.1.0), the Salvadoran As- sociation for Peace and Self- Determination (ASPAES), the Support Commitee for Women in El Salvador, the FMLN Youth and the FMLN-FDR Vancouver Support Group.